COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 10, 30 November 1863, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

I.MELBOTJH3IE COMMERCIAL. • (From the Argug, November 24th.) ay being observed as a holiday at the public a> the anniversary of the proclamation ot rible government in Victoria, the Customwas closed, except for the entering and gof vessels. There were no export entries for gold. be markets, although tbe holiday has been og but general, business has been anything isk. The. near approach of the mail day for » and the East hag led to the main attention in the counting-houses. The sales tion have been unimportant, most important transaction since last mail sen the result of the Goverament issue of XX) of the railway loan. Tenders were I on the 3rd instant, wh n it appeared that 0 were applied for at. or above the limit of 10s. These were accepted, and the balance awn from the market for the present. Offers iuce been made for the whole at, or slightly Mice of tbe minimum, but declined by tbe anient; and we have no doubt they will

ultimately realize a much: higher figure, it judiciously placed on the market; Previous to the 3rd, prices went dowti to £10&, but'imme&aloiy rallied to£lo6£, £io7> amrXtOTlr, c*e * accrued interest. The tottft *ntount*t;endered for was £158,770, of which £$!i,203 was under the minimum. Thexmly important meeting Tor the month was that of the National Bank, held en -the 3rd*itrstant. The nett profits for the half-year amounted 'to, £37.500 18s 3d, including £11, 168 12s &ld prem. on shares 'sold; which were appropriated as follows : — Dividend at tho rate of eight per centper annum, A/16*,000; Jbalance of preliminary expenses, £6000 ; reservo fund, £15,000;; furniture and stationery account, £.500 18s 3d. The reserve fund now amounts to £27,000, and the business of the bank . is prosprt-d&s and inereosincr. Since the amvabof the English mail, the demand for shares on account of South Australian buyers has almost cleared the market at any price under £o. In taming business <the amount done has been rather under the average. Tlie returns, however, show no perceptible falling off, and the usual divi-dendir-have generally been paid by the welHmown Bitllarat companies. Of the joint-stnek mines established during the mtftoia of 1859 60, few are doing more thin paying i-spenses, and many not doing so much.